The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will host the largest-ever U.S. exhibition dedicated to Raphael, opening March 29, 2026. Titled "Raphael: Sublime Poetry," the show will bring together over 200 works from more than 30 international lenders, including the Louvre, Uffizi, Vatican Museums, and the Prado. Curated by Carmen Bambach, the exhibition spans Raphael's career from Urbino to Rome, featuring paintings, preparatory sketches, tapestries, and decorative objects, with highlights such as the Alba Madonna and works rarely loaned before.
This landmark exhibition matters because it offers an unprecedented comprehensive view of Raphael's genius in the United States, reuniting iconic works that have never been shown together. It also underscores the Met's continued leadership in organizing major scholarly surveys of Renaissance masters, following Bambach's acclaimed 2017 "Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman & Designer" show. By bringing together loans from top global museums, the exhibition provides a rare opportunity for audiences to engage deeply with Raphael's artistic legacy and historical context.